Shake Shack opens 1st Bay Area location to long lines in Palo Alto
PALO ALTO, Calif. (KTVU) - The much anticipated Shake Shack in Palo Alto opened its doors Saturday as a long line of hungry customers waited to feast on the restaurant's famous offerings.
The New York based burger joint opened its first Bay Area location at the Stanford Shopping Center Saturday.
Among the traditional fares including the ShackBurger and crinkle cut fries, there are a number of items on the menu that incorporate a local vibe, including a burger called the Golden State Double.
Some of the frozen custard concretes also have a Bay Area flair as they were created in connection with local sweet treats including Pie Dreams, Dandelion Chocolate and Manresa Bread.
There are also Bay Area sourced beverages on tap including the Bay Area gets its first taste of Shake Shack. There are also plenty of local wine options including Broc Cellars, Hunt & Harvest, BREA Wine Company and Robert Sinskey Vineyards.
KTVU spoke with Julie Nguien of San Francisco who was waiting in line for an hour and a half when we spoke with her. She said she hadn't even made it halfway to the front of the line at that point.
Nguien, who has had Shake Shack in New York, specifically wanted to try the sweet potato bun baked by Tartine Bakery of San Francisco, which is available at the Palo Alto location. "There is always this debate between Shake Shack and In N Out. I think Shake Shack is more of a gourmet meat so that's why it's worth trying... I don't think I'd do this again. The wait is way too long for Shake Shack - but it is good," she said.
The Stanford Shack is donating 25% of proceeds from opening day, as well 5% of sales from the Pie Oh My concrete to La Cocina, a San Francisco-based non-profit that offers up low-income food to those in need.